After being delayed Lexus has finally revealed the latest the 2021 Lexus IS virtual reveal.
Lexus International Chief Engineer Naoki Kobayashi cited that the creation of the latest IS was it excels in communicating with drivers.
“What we had foremost in mind in developing the new IS was to make it a car that excelled in communicating with the driver regardless of the road conditions or driving situation,” Kobayashi said.
“We aimed to make the new IS a Lexus compact sports sedan that provides high-quality riding comfort while offering a high level of vehicle control.”
From the outside, the Lexus IS striking. With its bold styling and its sharp, angular profiles, the IS a stunning addition to the Lexus lineup. From the front, you will be greeted with the signature Lexus Spindle grille, framed by two redesigned LED headlights.
Turning to the side, the IS's contoured body lines give it a bold and regal look, ready to traverse the streets like royalty. The rear fascia of the vehicle features and LED taillight strip that spans from end to end, giving the car a futuristic look. The rear also features a dual exhaust system.
The new IS comes with 19-inch wheels to improve cornering force and provide a greater contact patch with the road. There will be two different 19-inch wheels are available on F SPORT models, including a unique BBS wheel specific to the F SPORTs equipped with the Dynamic Handling Package. Standard 18-inch wheels will replace the outgoing 17-inch wheels on all other models.
There are five new exterior colors available on the 2021 IS, including Iridium, Cloudburst Gray, Matador Red Mica, Infrared*, and Grecian Water. These new colors will be added to other popular exterior options that include Ultra White, Eminent White Pearl, Atomic Silver, Caviar and Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0.
Stainless-steel scuff plates welcome passengers to the world of luxury that is the cabin of the IS. The stylish F SPORT front seats is an attention-grabber, especially when wrapped in the available new Circuit Red option.
The interior features standard NuLuxe®-trimmed seating, with 10-way power driver and 8-way power adjustable front passenger seats, a dual-zone automatic climate control system with touch-sensitive controls, an available power moonroof, and SmartAccess with push button start. The plush front seats also offer standard heated and ventilated functions, and there is a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with perforated leather-wrapped gear shifter and F SPORT combination instrument panel awaits the driver.
The IS features a standard 8-inch touchscreen, with an optional expansive new 10.3-inch touchscreen is available on vehicles equipped with navigation. The new multimedia system features Apple CarPlay® compatibility, Android Auto™ compatibility, and Amazon Alexa integration.
The all new 2021 IS will be available in both rear- and all-wheel drive configurations, and there are three distinct powertrain options available depending upon the grade.
The rear-wheel drive IS 300 features a 2.0-liter, turbocharged and intercooled inline four-cylinder engine. The 2.0-liter engine is updated for 2021, now featuring an adaptive transmission control that helps determines the most appropriate gear for each driving situation.
The IS 300 AWD is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that delivers 260 horsepower and 320 Nm of torque mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
The electronically controlled all-wheel drive system is designed to help enhance traction and grip by automatically varying front-to-rear torque distribution. On dry roads it maintains a 30:70 front-to-rear torque split for maximum performance, but it’s capable of sending as much as 50 percent of the power to the front wheels in certain conditions.
For buyers who crave maximum power, there’s the IS 350 in either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 311 hp and 350 Nm of torque. The rear-wheel drive model uses the same eight-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission found in the IS 300 RWD, while the AWD version sends power through a six-speed automatic.
The Lexus IS comes with a barrage of safety tech features, including the Pre-Collision System (PCS), which include Frontal Collision Warning (FCW), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Pedestrian Detection and Bicyclist Detection. There is also an All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) that can be activated above 50 kph.
Lane Departure Alert is designed to help notify the driver if it senses the vehicle is leaving the designated lane without engaging a turn signal via steering wheel vibrations or audible alert. When DRCC is set and engaged, Lane Tracing Assist (LTA).
As on now, there is no update yet on the pricing of the new IS.
The new 2021 IS is expected to arrive in dealerships later this year, and it will be available for sale in approximately 40 countries around the world, including the US, Japan, and other countries in Asia.
“The car that really taught me what performance driving was, and it was the moment when my love affair with Lexus began,” Toyota President Akio Toyoda said.
Photos from Lexus
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